Softball: Menacing defense awaits Tribe vs. Yamhill-Carlton

No. 8 Scappoose will take on No. 2 Yamhill-Carlton on Friday at home

It's fairly safe to say the worst is almost over for the Indian softball program.

On Friday, April 18, the Tribe traveled to take on No. 1 Banks, losing both ends of their doubleheader. They then went on the road to play Seaside, the highest scoring squad in the Cowapa League with 121 runs headed into Tuesday's contest on the coast.

Now, they'll have to square off with No. 2 Yamhill-Carlton, but this time, the challenge is completely different. In nine games, the Tigers have allowed 11 runs. Only No. 6 Gladstone has given up fewer, letting in 10 scores through 12 games, and the Tigers' haven't exactly been shutting out a schedule of pansies. They beat a trio of Californian squads by a combined score of 35-1 to start of the season, and managed to top No. 3 McLoughlin 4-2 just a few days after the Pioneers beat Scappoose 2-1.

The Tigers have never given up more than three runs, which has only happened twice and both times to an opponent ranked in the top four of their respective division. They've only lost once all season, falling 3-1 to No. 1 Banks in the Cowapa League opener.

Scappoose has shown at times they have an ability to play with the best teams in the state, including their close losses to No. 10 Taft and McLoughlin at the preseason tournament in Milton-Freewater. They also played No. 7 La Salle down to the wire, but mistakes on defense have haunted the Indians throughout the season, including a pair of losses in last week's double header at Banks.

First pitch, barring rain on Friday afternoon, will be thrown out at 4 p.m. between Scappoose and No. 2 Yamhill-Carlton, with the second game beginning around 5:30.